North Carolina Tar Heels beat Virginia Cavaliers 31-28 in ACC Coastal football game
Coverage from the game
Live updates from the game
No. 17 North Carolina looks to secure one of its two wins that would clinch the ACC Coastal Division title and earn a berth in the conference championship game against Virginia at noon at Scott Stadium. To do so, the Tar Heels (7-1, 4-0 ACC) will have to do something they’ve never done under UNC coach Mack Brown — win in Charlottesville.
Brown has an 0-6 record north of the border against the Cavaliers (3-5, 1-4) with the first five losses coming during his first stint at UNC. The News & Observer’s UNC beat writer C.L. Brown and photographer Robert Willett are at Scott Stadium to report on the game.
Check back here for updates.
Armstrong TD run: UVA 28, UNC 31. 4Q
Brennan Armstrong scrambled for an 8-yard touchdown run. The key play on the drive was a 40-yard completion to Demick Starling.
Green TD catch: UNC 31, UVA 21. 4Q
One play after Elijah Green ran for a first down on fourth-and-1, Green caught a flat pass to took it 22 yards for a score. The Heels have now scored on all three of their second half possessions.
Downs TD catch: UNC 24, UVA 21. 3Q
Josh Downs catch a 19-yard touchdown -- his second reception on a third down during the drive -- to move UNC back ahead in the game’s sixth lead change. Downs has caught 12 passes for 144 yards to mark his third game with more than 100 yards.
Walker TD run: UVA 21, UNC 17. 3Q
Sackett Wood had scored on a 34-yard touchdown catch and run, but an official review ruled he was out at the 1. The Wahoos scored on the next play from the UNC 1 on Ronnie Walker Jr.’s first touchdown run of the season.
Green TD run: UNC 17, UVA 14. 3Q
Josh Downs caught a 32-yard pass to help set up Elijah Green’s 4-yard touchdown run as Carolina scored on the opening drive of the third quarter.
Brown TD run: UVA 14, UNC 10. 2Q
Virginia marched 75 yards in 13 plays to re-take the lead with 2:04 left in the first half. Running back Xavier Brown finished off the drive with a 3-yard scoring run, his first career touchdown.
Maye TD run: UNC 10, UVA 7. 2Q
Maye gave Carolina the lead on his longest 5-yard run of this season. Maye rolled right looking to pass, then ran all the way back to his left to score untouched. The key play on the drive was a pass interference penalty on Jonas Sanker while defending tight end Kamari Morales.
Duck interception
Storm Duck recorded his second interception of the season, and first since the opener against Florida A&M, to stop a Virginia drive that had reached the UNC 39. The ball was tipped by intended receiver Luke Wentz and linebacker Cedric Gray, before Duck dove to catch it.
Burnette FG: UNC 3, UVA 7. 1Q
Carolina drove inside the UVA 10, but had to settle for a 35-yard Noah Burnette field goal. Quarterback Drake Maye had an incomplete first down pass when Antoine Green and tight end John Copenhaver were in the same vicitinty. The throw looked like it was for Copenhaver, but Green made an attempt to catch it.
Armstrong TD run: UVA 7, UNC 0. 1Q
UVA quarterback Brennan Armstrong capped off an opening drive score with a 4-yard run. It was the first time this season the Wahoos scored on an opening drive.
Injury updates
UNC tight end Bryson Nesbit and defensive end Kaimon Rucker are both available to play. Nesbit has his right knee fitted in a brace after playing just a few snaps against last week Pitt. Rucker injured his shoulder against the Panthers and was being monitored during the week.
Virginia will be without its top three receivers: Keytaon Thompson, Dontayvion Wicks and Lavel Davis Jr., who are all out with various injuries. Thompson leads the team with 53 catches and 579 yards. Wicks is second with 30 catches for 430 yards and Davis has 16 catches for 371 yards.
Pregame reading
Tar Heels aren’t scrambling. UNC football finally has depth to withstand injuries
UNC’s receiving tandem, one of the ACC’s best, is causing chaos for opposing defenses
Three of NC’s Big Four in initial College Football Playoff rankings for 1st time ever
UNC football suffers another blow. Two starting defensive linemen, RB out for season
UNC vs Virginia first look: Tar Heels look to remain unbeaten in ACC and on the road
